There’s a new face in the ultrarunning scene, and she certainly is a force to be reckoned with. Many are wondering who the slim speedster is flying by, with her blonde pigtails bouncing underneath a backwards trucker hat. Ashley Erba has become a memorable name of late, but not just in Colorado.
At the ripe age of 19 with less than a year of ultrarunning experience under her belt, Erba has already made a name for herself in several high profile ultras, with first place finishes at Moab’s Red Hot 55K (beating ultra veterans Kara Henry and Kerrie Bruxvoort) and the Power of Four 50K in Aspen (finishing 10th overall). What’s more, Erba finished third in her first 50 mile at the highly-competitive Lake Sonoma 50M, also earning herself a spot at the prestigious Western States 100.
As young as Erba is, she’s not new to running. No, Erba has been immersed in the running community for almost her entire life. Perhaps what’s most interesting is Erba’s transition from a full athletic scholarship in college (think multiple state titles and a national championship), to moving to Boulder where she follows no specific training regimen besides exploring all that the Colorado mountains have to offer. It would seem that this passionate and talented athlete is following her own advice: “Find Your Free.”
Quick Stats
Name: Ashley Lane Erba
Age: 19
Hometown & Current: Davis, CA (Hometown) & Boulder, CO (Current); in between these, however, I grew up mostly in Winona Lake, IN
Professional & Educational background: For my early education, I feel blessed to be able to say I was homeschooled – or rather, unschooled – with my mother as a guide and mentor as I learned through living life to its fullest. I first took an interest in running track and cross country for school in my later elementary years, and so I entered the public school system (a decision I often wish I could take back! Haha). In 2013, I graduated from Warsaw Community High School and accepted a full athletic scholarship to Providence College in Rhode Island. After completing my freshman year, however, I knew that while I had excelled academically at Providence, I was not truly thriving there, and so I decided to turn down my scholarship for the next year and continue my education elsewhere. I soon found myself in Boulder, CO, and felt more at home than perhaps I ever had before! I transferred into the University of Colorado Boulder last winter and plan to complete my higher education there.
Sports participated in: Cross Country and Track while in high school, but now I race trail ultra-marathons and explore the mountains
Years in current sport: Well, if you consider my current sport to be running in its entirety, then the answer would be 14 years. However, I just began racing trail ultra-marathons last September (2014).
Sponsors/Affiliations: Altra (shoes), VFuel (energy gels), Simple Hydration (water bottles), and Down to Run
The Long Run
What are some of the biggest highlights in your racing career?
While I’d already been running for over a decade, my racing success didn’t take off until my junior year of high school. In the fall of 2011, I won my first Indiana state title in cross county while setting the state meet record. The following spring I captured my second state title by winning the women’s 3200m and capped my season off at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, where I won the 5000m and set a new meet record (16:18). I have switched gears with my running, however, and now find fulfillment on the trails. My biggest racing highlights in ultras thus far have been at Lake Sonoma 50M and Power of Four 50k. Lake Sonoma was my first 50M race, and in the months preceding it I struggled continually with injury in my hips and ankles to such a degree that my training took place almost exclusively on an elliptical. Despite my anxiety and self-doubt, however, I toed the start line come race day and was able to pull off a third place finish, earning myself a coveted bid to the Western States 100. A few months after Lake Sonoma I raced the Power of Four 50k, which was not only part of the US Skyrunning series but also the North American Continental Skyrunning Championships. I finished in a time of 5:53:25 – placing me 1st in the women’s field and 10th overall.
What are your long-term goals? What do you want to achieve as an athlete?
Dang, that’s always a tough question to answer! I want to become faster, stronger, and more balanced — not just in my running but as an athlete in general. Longer distances, more challenging races, and new peaks are always on my mind. Ultimately I would love to live a life in which I have complete freedom to run, climb, and explore to my heart’s content with no restrictions!
Why Colorado? What makes Colorado so special for endurance athletes? What makes Colorado special to YOU?
Colorado feels like home. Growing up in Northern Indiana, I never really felt like I “fit.” When I left for college, I thought I would finally find my niche – a place where I could pursue my interests free from judgment and with people who shared my passions. I was devastated when my freshman year left me lonely and depleted, both physically and emotionally. I spent the summer back in Indiana with my family, and while I loved being with my parents, brother, and sister, Indiana still felt wrong for me. I was in need of change, and since several people I knew were either visiting or moving to Colorado, I decided to take a few months and see what the hype was about. I’ve always loved trails and was craving wilderness and adventure. When I got to Colorado, something just clicked. Not only were the trails and resources an endurance athlete’s dream, but the PEOPLE were just INCREDIBLE. For the first time I found – not just a few – but entire groups of people who thought like I did, loved the same activities I did, and shared my passions for running, the outdoors, and being true to oneself. Even after a year of being here, every trip to the mountains, every new trail, and every run with friends feels magical.
Middle Distance
Take us through a “day in the life,” what type of training regimen do you follow?
Haha… “training regimen” is not exactly the phrase I’d use to describe my running these days. After years of following a very specific training schedule in high school and the first part of college, any kind of scripted or controlled training truly gave me anxiety. When I shifted gears and started focusing on trail running — and more specifically the ultra distance — I shied away from any specific “training” and instead poured myself into mountain adventures and rediscovering why I was so drawn to running in the first place. Currently, a “day in the life of Ashley Erba” could be any number of things. This summer has been a fun-filled whirlwind of training in Boulder with fellow Altra and VFuel athlete Josh Arthur, taking trips into the high country mountains to run, camp, and explore, pacing and racing at events from Ohio to California, and sneaking in work shifts at Boulder Running Company when I’m in town.
What are one or two things you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
Ironically, the two things I currently do in my training that I believe make the difference between success and injury are not running-related in and of themselves. Rather, I believe that faithfully doing core/strength work and consistently supplementing my running with low-impact cross training have made a tremendous difference!
Do you have any recommended resources to share?
Though he – only half-jokingly – has described me as “uncoachable,” I’ve got to give a shout out to my training partner Josh Arthur who is a fantastic resource for all things related to training, racing, and the biomechanics of running in general. For details on his coaching (rates and whatnot) you can find lots of fun info at his website http://www.runjosharthur.com/
What is your biggest challenge, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
I think everyone has at least a few demons to fight, both in life and in training! As a naturally Type-A person, I often struggle walking that fine line between being organized, put together, and in control while not getting too obsessive about the details. I’ve found that living where I do now and surrounding myself with the right kind of people makes an incredible difference.
What are your favorite races in Colorado?
There are so many incredible races here – most of which I have yet to participate in – that I don’t feel I could fairly pick a favorite yet.
Where do you like to train in Colorado?
Boulder is an amazing hub for training with a wonderful spread of resources including trails, cross training opportunities, and bodywork specialists. Even with Boulder’s amazing resources, I’ve found my running feels its best when I supplement my training with frequent trips up into the mountains where I can truly unplug, summit peaks, and run new trails in the high country.
Sprints
Favorite running shoe: Trail – Superior 2.0, Road – One 2.5
Favorite post-run/race beverage: Currently I’m hooked on Powerade Zero’s… any flavor
Favorite post-run/race meal: It’s not exactly a meal, but I’m a diehard lover of dark chocolate. Throw in a pint of vegan ice cream and that rounds out a solid meal though, right?
Day job: Student at CU Boulder and part-time sales associate at Boulder Running Co.
Solo runner, running partner or team/group? I do a lot of my cross training solo, but when it comes to running and adventuring I favor having a running partner over being alone or with a group.
Favorite Restaurant: Josh Arthur’s kitchen
Favorite Coffee Shop: Whole Foods
Favorite Bar: The first one (microbrewery) that wants to sponsor me starting on my 21st birthday :-P
Favorite Running Store: Boulder Running Company, of course!
Favorite non-running activity: Rock climbing. Or sleeping.
Favorite TV Show: What’s TV?
Favorite movie: So many good ones… but Little Miss Sunshine holds a special place in my heart
Podium
What was the best advice you were ever given?
The best advice I was ever given was from my mom. I was states away from those I cared about, suffocating emotionally, feeling trapped in a world I couldn’t live in, and crying to her over the phone. She said, “Remember, you ALWAYS have a choice.” Whenever I start to feel stressed, anxious, or swamped by obligations and have-tos, I remember her saying this. It sticks with me because no matter what it is always true – there may be consequences for what you choose, but each of us does have that power.
Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by? That you train by?
“Find Your Free”
What keeps you motivated? Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I’ve always been extremely self-motivated in all aspects of life. With running, however, I find I don’t need a “motivator” – it’s part of my very being. Getting out to run isn’t part of training for me, it’s part of keeping myself sane and functioning. To not run, adventure, and explore would feel like trying to see how long I could go without breathing… it just wouldn’t end well!